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Years before the Lord came as Jesus of Nazareth, He announced His coming in the Old Testament prophecies. Then when He did come, He told us exactly who He was. For example, "Before Abraham was born, I am" (John 8:58), "The Father and I are one" (John 10:31), and "Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). To make His point clear, Jesus performed miracles that no other human being has performed, the culmination of which was His resurrection from the dead. We can think of Jesus as the invisible God taking on a visible form. He did this in order to communicate His love to us, to show us the way to Himself and the way to do things for God, and ultimately to provide the way to Himself. Jesus did this by allowing Himself to be put to death, crucified, for the forgiveness of our sins. The Bible says that, in Jesus, God "made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:5).
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:1,14). He [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being (Hebrews 1:3). In the Old Testament God was seen (Exodus 6:2-3; 24:9-11; Num. 12:6-9; Acts 7:2), yet no man can see God (Exodus 33:20; John 1:18). It was not the Father that was seen in the Old Testament (John 6:46). Then who were they seeing? Answer Jesus Christ. Before Abraham was "I am" (John 8:58). "I am" was the covenant name for God in the Old Testament (Yahweh). The Jews understood the significance of this statement, because they picked up stones to stone him for blasphemy (John 8:59). In Isaiah it is said "I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, there am I; and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me." The speaker in this verse is obviously God, and yet He says He has been sent both by The Lord God (that is, the Father) and by His Spirit (that is, the Holy Spirit) Isaiah 48:16:.
Jehovah's Witnesses, say Jesus was a created being and thus not God. Some being even more subtle will say Jesus was the Son of God, but not God the Son - again denying His true nature. If you have 30 seconds with a Jehovah Witness (who does not believe that Jesus is God) then have them turn to Revelation 1:8: "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." A Jehovah Witness will tell you that this verse refers to God the Father, the God of the Old Testament. So God is the Alpha and Omega. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. God is the Beginning and End of all things.
Now have your Jehovah Witness friend turn to Revelation 22:13: I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. To whom does this verse refer? Well, a Jehovah Witness will tell you it must refer to God the Father, since He is called the Alpha and Omega in Revelation 1:8. (Of course in verse 15 the speaker calls himself "Jesus," but perhaps there was a shift in speakers between verse 13 and 15. We will give the Jehovah Witness the benefit of the doubt.) Notice that the person who is the Alpha and Omega is also the First and the Last. So from a Jehovah Witness point of view: God = Alpha and Omega = First and Last.
Now turn to Revelation 1:17-18. John is writing about his vision and he says, When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." Here are the connections that we have seen so far: God = Alpha and Omega = First and Last = one who was dead and now alive! When did God die? The only answer that can be is: "in Jesus" The inescapable conclusion is that Jesus is God!, plain and simple. Below are just a few of the Scriptures that show that Jesus is God and of God a complete deity, coequal with the Father, and one with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Verses saying Jesus is God:
God the Father calls Jesus God!
"But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." Heb. 1:8
Jesus is called Emmanuel, His name means God with Us!
"Therefore the Lord Father himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14
"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with Us." Matt. 1:23
After His Resurrection the Apostles declared Jesus is God!
"And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God." John 20:28
"Who, being in the form of God" Philippians 2:6
"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." Colossians. 2:9
Paul called Jesus (The Great God)!
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God our Saviour Jesus Christ. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." Titus 2:13
John the apostle state's that Jesus was the Word which was God that then became flesh!
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" John1 1:14
"But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God." John 5:18
"To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen" Jude 1:25
Jesus has all Power of Heaven and Earth!
"And when they saw him, they worshipped him. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matt. 28:18-20
Jesus is the one who gives eternal life!
"I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." John 10:28-30
Jesus created all things!
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." Col. 1:14-19
Jesus said you must honor me even as you honor the Father!
"For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. The Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" John 5:23 43 and 47
Jesus is called the Mighty God in Isaiah!
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6
"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it. Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts. Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.
Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall be glory."